A ‘life of torture.’ Parents tried to hide abuse of 3-year-old with makeup, police say

25-year-old Miller Costello and 23-year-old Brenda Emile could face the death penalty in the death of their 3-year-old daughter Angelina in July 2017. Prosecutors say the child was emaciated and her wounds covered in makeup.
Weber County Sheriff's Office

“It’s the worst case of child abuse I’ve ever seen,” Ogden police officer Chris Bishop said at a pretrial hearing, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Deputy Weber County Attorney Christopher Shaw described her life as a “life of torture,” the paper reported.

Police were called to the home on July 6 after a 911 call about a girl passed out and not breathing, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. When an officer arrived, he said the girl reminded him of “a holocaust survivor,” according to the paper.

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When police searched the cellphone videos of both parents, they say they found videos of the child being kicked in the face with the foot of an infant, being taunted with food by having it given to her and then taken away and more, Fox 13 reported.

In a police interview, Costello reportedly told investigators he knew about the girl’s health problems but that Emile would get angry with him if he fed her, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Emile reportedly denied ever harming the girl and allegedly said she had been injured playing in a bounce house and by playing with sparklers, according to the paper.

Both parents were charged with aggravated murder and have pleaded not guilty, according to the Associated Press. Emile’s lawyer argued that there was no evidence Emile caused the girl’s death, but the judge pointed out that makeup had allegedly been used to conceal the child’ full injuries, according to the AP.

In 2016, 46 children lost their lives as a result of abuse, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services reported. Incidences of suspected child abuse or neglect should be reported to the DHS by calling 1-800-932-0313.

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